Scratching for omens

[Brightgoldenhaze]

Andy, be prepared, they say anything can happen in the playoffs, but no-one expected this one - it'll be exactly 15 years on Saturday since this happened to us:

Play-Off Semi-Final - BGB Football League Premier Division – Tuesday, 29th April 2008

Halesowen Town 2 Chippenham Town 3 – Match Abandoned after 35 minutes

Halesowen’s vital play-off game with Chippenham was abandoned after a bizarre 35 minutes of splashing around in atrocious conditions saw five goals and enough controversial talking points to last a whole season.

The pre-match nervous appreciation gradually gave way to real meteorological concern as a predicted belt of heavy rain duly arrived in Halesowen just an hour before kick-off and poured down relentlessly throughout the game, turning a perfectly playable surface into one not befitting a play-off showpiece.

In an explosive but the worst imaginable start for Halesowen, Mark Osborn collected the ball just seconds after kick-off but then slid like ‘Bambi on Ice’ outside his penalty area with the ball still in his possession to concede a free-kick. Maybe the omens should have been recognised with the referee reconsidering whether the game should go ahead with the ball clearly failing to run smoothly. Sensibly, Osborn escaped without any caution for his ‘offence’ but Kye Holly floated in the resulting free-kick and the ball was met by a stooping header from Aaron CORNWALL to give the Bluebirds the lead after just 45 seconds.

Massive controversy then followed in the 3rd minute when Darren Caskey’s corner was met by a goal-bound header by Stuart Pierpoint, only for a Chippenham hand to be raised on the goal-line to keep the ball out of the net. Ross Adams (who later scored for Chippenham) was generally considered to be the guilty party, but in total mayhem, the referee firstly duly awarded the penalty but then lost the identity of the culprit, despite consulting his assistant. After failing to caution any Chippenham player, Yeltz captain Caskey correctly pointed out to the referee the huge disadvantage of not dismissing any visiting player in contravention of F.A. directives in such situations. After almost four minutes of confusion and delay, Dean BRENNAN stepped up to hit home straight down the centre from the penalty spot to equalise and record his 21st goal of the season.

Goals looked likely with every attack and with the home defence looking fragile, a 12th minute free-kick from Holly was cleared for a corner. However, Halesowen went ahead in the 14th minute when Brennan floated the ball into the penalty area and with goalkeeper Chris Snoddy slow off his line, Andy Hall nipped in to strike the post and Eldon MAQUEMBA was on hand to convert the rebound. Alex Cowley made a fine tackle to deny David Pratt on a long run into the Halesowen area in the 19th minute before Chippenham drew level in the 20th minute when another Holly free-kick was headed home firmly by ADAMS.

As the farce continued, Chippenham took a 22nd minute lead when defender Dennis Pearce was bogged down and muscled out allowing Luke Gullick to cross from the right for the ball to be turned over his own line by Stuart Pierpoint under attention from PRATT, who claimed the goal. Further goals seemed likely at every attempt and Brennan went close twice before Snoddy managed to hold onto Caskey’s 29th minute free-kick as Halesowen sought an equaliser.

Referee Martin finally called it a day after a ridiculous waterlogged midfield challenge involving Cowley in the 35th minute with standing surface water all over the Grove surface.

Abandonment before half-time meant free tickets had to be organised for the re-arranged game on Thursday, 1st May with the ultimate winners meeting Team Bath at Twerton Park in the play-off final. Four ducks settled on the pitch shortly after the final spectators had finally departed and summed up a very strange evening in a game that everyone - except the elements - thought must be decided on the night.

Halesowen Town: Osborn; Cowley, Hamilton, Pearce, Pierpoint, Denny, Hall, Caskey, Brennan, Maquemba, Anya. Unused Subs: Abbey, Hicks, Maynard, Waite, Dormand.

Chippenham Town: Snoddy; Adams, Halliday, Price, McEntegart, Harvey, Lye, Holly, Pratt, Cornwall, Gullick. Unused Subs: Seavill, Allison, Badman, Metitiri, Carr.

Referee: R. J. Martin (Weston-Super-Mare) Attendance: 739
Booked: Cowley (26)

I remember the handball well. I always thought that if no-one owned up, the ref should have just sent the Chippenham captain off.

[andy]

.....and now add to the list 'anything can happen'. Cheers Dave.

[andy]

I'm looking more for 'South Holland district of Lincolnshire hit by beri beri outbreak' or similar.

[DJ]

Spalding have never managed to reach Southern/Northern Premier League level (step 3). Ever.

[Westyeltz]

Andy, be prepared, they say anything can happen in the playoffs, but no-one expected this one - it'll be exactly 15 years on Saturday since this happened to us:

Play-Off Semi-Final - BGB Football League Premier Division – Tuesday, 29th April 2008

Halesowen Town 2 Chippenham Town 3 – Match Abandoned after 35 minutes


Referee: R. J. Martin (Weston-Super-Mare) Attendance: 739
Booked: Cowley (26)

739??? That's ridiculously low. Only about 9 from Halesowen? Chips always used to bring hundreds, if not a thousand as we all know

[Noggin]

Andy, be prepared, they say anything can happen in the playoffs, but no-one expected this one - it'll be exactly 15 years on Saturday since this happened to us:

Play-Off Semi-Final - BGB Football League Premier Division – Tuesday, 29th April 2008

Halesowen Town 2 Chippenham Town 3 – Match Abandoned after 35 minutes


Referee: R. J. Martin (Weston-Super-Mare) Attendance: 739
Booked: Cowley (26)

739??? That's ridiculously low. Only about 9 from Halesowen? Chips always used to bring hundreds, if not a thousand as we all know

I think that casual supporters would have been put off by the weather.
Given the apocalyptic conditions, many were amazed that the match took place and duty rumour had it at the time that it was down the Southern League pressure that it started at all.
Around 1800 were privileged to witness the replayed match on the Thursday including the Eldon super-goal which gets better every time I remember it.

[HalesowenHarry]

Spalding have never managed to reach Southern/Northern Premier League level (step 3). Ever.

Oh no

[andy]

Spalding have never managed to reach Southern/Northern Premier League level (step 3). Ever.

Oh no

Yep, made me feel worse as well.

[HalesowenHarry]

Spalding have never managed to reach Southern/Northern Premier League level (step 3). Ever.

Oh no

Yep, made me feel worse as well.

if that made you feel a tiny amount of sick in the mouth then don't look at this site then https://footystats.org/england/halesowe ... -h2h-stats